Silver Muse completes sea trials

We’re getting our first look at the nearly-finished Silver Muse as Silversea’s latest-and-greatest sets out on her sea trials from the Fincantieri Shipyards in Genoa.

Silver Muse completes her sea trials off the coast of Italy in February, 2017. Photo courtesy of Silversea

“The successful completion of sea trials marks yet another significant milestone in Silver Muse’s development. In just a matter of weeks we will be welcoming guests from around the world on board the newest member of the Silversea family, with our new flagship set to offer the highest expression of excellence in elegance and comfort at sea,” said Roberto Martinoli, CEO at Silversea Cruises.

Silver Muse is the luxury line’s newest and largest ship to-date. At 699 feet in length, she is 56 feet longer than the line’s current flagship, the elegant Silver Spirit. She also holds slightly more guests, with a total capacity of 596 served by a dedicated crew of 411. And despite some similarities in her external appearance and her overall general arrangement, make no mistake about it: Silver Muse is a very different ship, with larger suites, more top-of-the-line suites, and an all-new dining concept that features smaller, more intimate venues instead of a traditional dining room.

As part of her sea trials, Silver Muse underwent extensive tests to determine the exact performance of the ship in all aspects. This includes tests of the ships propulsion and mechanical systems, high-speed tests, vibration and noise tests, and endurance tests. According to Silversea and Fincantieri, the ship passed with flying colors.

Silver Muse will be christened on April 19 of this year, in a lavish ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco. During her first season, Silver Muse will visit 130 ports of call in 34 different countries, establishing her as a globetrotter in her own right. When she enters service, she’ll bring Silversea’s fleet to a total of nine ships.

I will be onboard her delivery “shakedown” voyage from Genoa to Barcelona on April 1, and will have full top-to-bottom coverage of this classy new ship beginning here on April 2. The last time I saw her, she was a lone block of steel at the Fincantieri yards at Genoa. I watched on a sunny December afternoon as the ceremonial coins were welded into her hull.

Now, as Silver Muse enters the final phase of her construction, the line’s first new ship in eight years is tantalizingly close to completion. It won’t be long before she is taking hundreds of privileged folks on Silversea’s infectious brand of cruising – and hopefully acting as an introduction (not to mention a worldwide ambassador) to the world of Silversea.